Glucose fluorescence monitor and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining the concentration of glucose in a sample, comprising:
- a light source that emits excitation light that is directed at a sample to produce return light from the sample, such return light including fluorescent light produced by any glucose present in the sample;
a sensor that monitors the return light and generates a glucose fluorescence signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a wavelength band associated with the direct fluorescence of glucose and generates a reference signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a reference wavelength band; and
a processor that processes the glucose fluorescence signal and the reference signal to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample.
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Abstract
A glucose monitor, and related method, determines the concentration of glucose in a sample by monitoring fluorescent light produced directly by any glucose present in the sample. The glucose monitor illuminates the sample with ultraviolet excitation light that induces any glucose present in the sample to fluoresce, with the fluorescent light being monitored and processed to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample. A sensor monitors the return light, which includes fluorescent light produced by any glucose in the sample, and generates first and second electrical signals indicative of the intensity of light in two wavelength bands. One wavelength band includes a characteristic spectral peak of glucose fluorescence, and the other wavelength band is a reference band having known spectral characteristics. A processor then processes the first and second electrical signals to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample. A fiber-optic waveguide is used to guide the excitation light from the laser light source to the sample and the return light from the sample to the sensor. The fiber-optic waveguide is housed in a catheter or probe that is adapted to monitor the concentration of glucose percutaneously in the oral cavity tissues of a person'"'"'s mouth such as the gums.
984 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining the concentration of glucose in a sample, comprising:
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a light source that emits excitation light that is directed at a sample to produce return light from the sample, such return light including fluorescent light produced by any glucose present in the sample; a sensor that monitors the return light and generates a glucose fluorescence signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a wavelength band associated with the direct fluorescence of glucose and generates a reference signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a reference wavelength band; and a processor that processes the glucose fluorescence signal and the reference signal to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample.
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2. Apparatus for determining the concentration of glucose in a sample, comprising:
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a light source that emits narrowband excitation light that is directed at a sample to produce return light from the sample, the excitation light having a wavelength between about 250 nanometers and about 350 nanometers; a sensor that monitors the return light and generates a first signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a first wavelength band, the first wavelength band being within a range that is about 30 to 50 nanometers longer than the wavelength of the excitation light, and wherein the sensor also generates a second signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a second wavelength band, the second wavelength band extending from about 380 nanometers to about 420 nanometers; and a processor that processes the first and second signals to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of determining the concentration of glucose in a sample, comprising:
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directing excitation light at a sample to cause the sample to produce return light, such return light including fluorescent light produced by any glucose present in the sample; monitoring the return light and generating first and second signals, the first signal indicative of the intensity of the return light within a first wavelength band and the second signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a second wavelength band; and processing the first and second signals to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample.
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12. A method of determining the concentration of glucose in a sample, comprising:
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directing narrowband excitation light having a wavelength between about 250 nanometers and about 350 nanometers at a sample to cause the sample to produce return light, such return light including fluorescent light produced by any glucose present in the sample; monitoring the return light and generating first and second signals, the first signal indicative of the return light within a first wavelength band, the first wavelength band being within a range that is about 30 to 50 nanometers longer than the wavelength of the excitation light, and the second signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a second wavelength band;
the second wavelength band extending from about 380 nanometers to about 420 nanometers; andprocessing the first and second signals to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for determining the concentration of glucose in the tissues of a person'"'"'s mouth, comprising:
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a light source that emits excitation light; a first fiber-optic waveguide transmitting the excitation light from the light source to the tissues of a person'"'"'s mouth to cause the tissues to produce return light, such return light including fluorescent light produced by any glucose present in the tissues; a sensor that monitors the return light; a second fiber-optic waveguide transmitting the return light from the tissues of the mouth to the sensor, wherein the sensor generates a glucose fluorescence signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a wavelength band associated with the direct fluorescence of glucose and generates a reference signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a reference wavelength band; and a probe housing the first and second fiber-optic waveguides, wherein the probe is adapted to enter the mouth; and a processor that processes the glucose fluorescence signal and the reference signal to determine the concentration of glucose in the tissues of a person'"'"'s mouth.
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19. A method of determining the concentration of glucose in a sample, comprising:
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directing excitation light at a sample to cause the sample to produce return light, such return light including fluorescent light produced by any glucose present in the sample; monitoring the return light and generating a glucose fluorescence signal and a reference signal, the glucose fluorescence signal indicative of the intensity of the return light within a wavelength band associated with the direct fluorescence of glucose and the reference signal indicative of the intensity of return light within a reference wavelength band; and processing the glucose fluorescence signal and the reference signal to determine the concentration of glucose in the sample.
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Specification